Prang.

caper7

I backed right into a metal railing/pole.
The top of the boot, right in the middle is dented in. It's a saloon car. The boot still opens and closes, so as far as I'm concerned the damage is cosmetic.
As the car is very old I wouldn't even think about repairing it, but I just wondered what the actual rules are regarding insurance which is due for renewal imminently.
Do you have to declare a dent, even if you're not making a claim?
Is a dented boot an MOT fail?
Many thanks.

wongataa

If the dent causes issues with the boot opening and closing it could be an issue with the MOT.  If there are sharp edges to the dent it could be a MOT issue.  Otherwise it won't matter.

Yes you are supposed to inform your insurance company of any incidents whether or not you claim.  That is what your insurance documents will say.  However for a cosmetic dent in an old car it wouldn't really matter if you said nothing.

flashg67

If it's just damage to your property then I wouldn't bother saying anything. Can't see how the insurance would ever know - it could have been there for years...

Arunmor

If you want to pay higher premiums then tell your insurer.

DullGreyGuy

You're obliged to tell your insurers but as noted above most people will "forget" and just run the risk of having their insurance voided.

What was the metal pole? Who owns it? Any obvious damage to it? CCTV in the area? 

Have known a few policyholders come unstuck when not reporting an incident involving street furniture etc and the owner later approaches claiming for the damage. In once case I suspect the policyholder is still paying off the c£50,000 they owe for the RTA they had a few months after hitting a street sign on a roundabout which the council caught on CCTV and made us aware of

caper7

I think I hit a metal railing/pole in the car park of a cemetery.
A man in the office there came out, but more in "oh dear, are you ok?" manner. He sort of commiserated with me saying "oh well, it is what it is". I was so sad/embarrassed, it never actually occurred to me to look at what I hit, just the back of my car. It never occurred to me there was damage other than to my car. The man didn't ask for my details or anything, so hopefully I'm the only one with damage.
Anyway, given what's been said above, I've called the insurance company.
There seemed to be 3 options.
Make a claim, make an information only claim or do nothing.
She said several times that as it wasn't a road traffic accident and no other vehicle was involved I could leave it. She said my insurance renewal wouldn't be affected even if I made an information only claim. Overall she didn't seem interested at all, I don't mean in a rude way, but in the "prang incident" itself, like they don't think it's a big deal.
Anyway, I therefore made no claim at all, and consider that having called to tell them honestly about what happened, that hopefully I've covered myself against all eventualities.

As my insurance is due for renewal in a couple of weeks, I presume I can shop around and don't need to mention this as it's not a claim and my own insurance company don't seem concerned?

DullGreyGuy

caper7 said:

As my insurance is due for renewal in a couple of weeks, I presume I can shop around and don't need to mention this as it's not a claim and my own insurance company don't seem concerned?

When you are shopping round you obviously have to answer all questions honestly and failing to do so can void your insurance. For example confused.com ask:

Have any drivers had any motor accidents or claims in the last 5 years?

This includes any incidents, losses, thefts or claims involving a vehicle regardless of fault or whether you claimed or not.

Obviously again many people will "forget" to mention things they didnt claim for but you'll find posts where people have been caught out lying about their history on here and the consequences. 

caper7

I've already got the renewal from my insurance company, if I just call up to pay it, would that be a problem given I have phoned them about the incident?

DullGreyGuy

You've already fulfilled your obligation to tell them

Arunmor

I certainly wouldn't be changing my insurer this year, just in case the council come looking.  Hopefully they won't.